Letter: Protect Our Borders First, Then Worry About Infections

Sunday

Aug 17, 2014 at 3:03 AM

Rep. Alan Grayson, D-Fla., recently requested that the government institute a ban on travelers entering the U.S. from countries affected by the Ebola epidemic. His stated intent is to help protect against "the enhanced danger Ebola now presents to the American public." While Centers for Disease Control and Prevention officials have downplayed the risk, calling it "very low," it would seem wise to err on the side of caution. In fact, Rep. Grayson’s common-sense proposal simply reflects good medical practice for containing and preventing the spread of deadly diseases.

Rep. Alan Grayson, D-Fla., recently requested that the government institute a ban on travelers entering the U.S. from countries affected by the Ebola epidemic. His stated intent is to help protect against "the enhanced danger Ebola now presents to the American public." While Centers for Disease Control and Prevention officials have downplayed the risk, calling it "very low," it would seem wise to err on the side of caution. In fact, Rep. Grayson’s common-sense proposal simply reflects good medical practice for containing and preventing the spread of deadly diseases.

However, such a ban would have no real benefit without corresponding control of our borders. Some media outlets are now reporting concerns that individuals from nations affected by the Ebola outbreak could be attempting to enter the U.S illegally through Mexico this year. This is in addition to news about other communicable diseases such as drug-resistant strains of tuberculosis being diagnosed in those who are now entering our country.

If you think it takes too much time to get in to see a doctor now, wait until cases of these diseases which were previously unknown in the U.S. or thought to have been brought under control decades ago start overwhelming our medical system. Perhaps the true "humanitarian" approach involves controlling not only travel from Ebola-infected countries as Congressman Grayson is proposing but also our borders — for everyone’s protection.